Open Space Corridors Project

Project Intent

The Open Space Corridors Project is one of the City’s initial steps to protect and enhance the City’s valuable open space lands and to position the City to achieve its vision.

"Tacoma is green. We have ensured the long-term health and quality of our community through protection of our natural environment, preservation of our tree canopy and responsible use of our natural resources. We live within the capacity of our natural systems, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability."

From Tacoma2025, the City’s Ten-Year Strategic Plan

This project will be completed in phases, with the first phase consisting of updates to the City's critical areas for Biodiversity Corridors. This step will make significant progress toward preventing further fragmentation of some of Tacoma's most valuable natural assets.

Current Status

The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on April 4, 2018 concerning the 2018 Amendments package (including the Open Space Corridors Project as one of the applications) and is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council on May 2, 2018.

Posted below for reference is the Public Hearing Notice. Also posted is the Open Space Corridors section of the public review document, which includes staff analysis report, proposed code changes, code overview, best available science summary, and map folio.

Prior to February, the Planning Commission had reviewed the subject on January 17, 2018 and gave direction on the proposed Biodiversity Corridors/Areas regulatory approach. Prior to that, the Planning Commission had reviewed the subject on December 6, 2017 and gave direction on the project schedule and scope. The focus of the current phase would be on updates to the City’s critical areas regulations pertaining to Biodiversity Corridors and steep slopes. Updating these critical areas standards would be an effective method to limit fragmentation of many of the most connected segments of the City’s Open Space Corridors.

Expected Completion

June 2018

What Areas of the City Are Designated as Parks and Open Space?

(Click the image to enlarge the map.)

Proposed Biodiversity Areas and Corridors

(Click the image to enlarge the map.)

Interactive Biodiversity Corridors/Areas Map

(Search by address to see where Biodiversity Corridors/Areas are located citywide, along with other critical areas, land use and zoning, and parks and open space information.)